1982 380sl slow 2-3 shift when cold

[saab_stories]

Hi, I am a new user of the forum. I didn't find any current threads on the trans for the 380 so I will describe it. When I start out cold the car shifts ok from 1-2 then 2-3 it is delayed going into 3rd. If I let up it will go to 3rd and doesn't slip 3-4 is better than 2-3 shift. Any ideas would be appreciated Thanks

[Diseasel300]

K1 accumulator spring. Search this forum for it and you'll get tons of results. The main symptoms of a failed K1 spring are slow/sloppy 2-3 shifts and/or flaring during that same shift. Part is <$10 and can be installed in less than 30 mins during your next transmission oil/filter change.

[Frank Reiner]

Originally Posted by saab_stories

Hi, I am a new user of the forum. I didn't find any current threads on the trans for the 380 so I will describe it. When I start out cold the car shifts ok from 1-2 then 2-3 it is delayed going into 3rd. If I let up it will go to 3rd and doesn't slip 3-4 is better than 2-3 shift. Any ideas would be appreciated Thanks

From your phrasing (in highlight) it might be concluded that "delayed" means that the trans hangs in 2nd until you lift, at which time the shift is completed without slipping. Is that a correct interpretation? If so, that is normal when cold; in her wisdom, Mother Benz saw fit to institute a shift delay, controlled by temperature, for the purpose of more quickly heating the catalytic converter(s).

[tyl604]

Did they have catalytic converters in 1982?

[Diseasel300]

American cars were required to have catalytic converters since 1977 (or was it 1978?), so yes this car has a cat.

The more important question though - does this car have the warmup delay? I thought this was a later thing, not applicable to the early (Gen 1) cars?

If it's a slip/flare especially under moderate-hard acceleration, look into the K1 spring. Mine was broken in 3 places in my SDL and the difference in shift quality was nothing short of stunning once it was replaced. 2-3 shifts happen a lot, especially in city traffic, and craptastic shifting gets old FAST.